Costa Rican it - the Hilton Papagayo

The alarm went off at 7 am and I quickly got ready so I could enjoy some breakfast at the hotel before our big day of site inspections.

First up ~ The Hilton Papagayo which is an all-inclusive resort with just 202 rooms with 4 different categories. As we stepped off of our shuttle bus we immediately noticed the gorgeous view from the lobby! So naturally I had to get a couple quick pictures. ;)

As the groups manager, Andy, showed us around I noticed the grounds were well kept and beautiful. The resort is built into it's natural surroundings and most of the rooms are in bungalow-like buildings with just 2 rooms per building which make them feel more intimate. Each building had a winding pathway to the front doors that was beautifully landscaped.

The oceanfront rooms were up on a the mountainside and were in bigger buildings. Also in that section the resort has 4 Jr Suites with amazing private plunge pools!

When we were taken down to the beach I couldn't help but to notice that it was bigger and nicer than the Occidental's beach. While I understand that most people do not go to Costa Rica for the beaches it is still important to some.

Andy also showed us their newest restaurant, 'The Grill" which is open for lunch and dinner. While it didn't have air conditioning it did have excuisite palapa roofing and it boasts beautiful views as it overlooked the beach.

They have a gorgeous three-tiered swimming pool with swim up bar and infinity pool.

In the spa section they have special pool-side service and 70 adult-only rooms. It looked ideal for wedding groups so I decided to get to know the wedding planner while there, Mr. Andre.

All in all, this resort ended up being the most impressive all-inclusive for me. It felt Costa Rican and still had the amenities to make an American satisfied.

To see more pictures of the lovely Hilton Papagayo see the slideshow below:

Fabulous and FREE weddings at the Iberostar Grand Resorts!

Oh my, I can barely contain my excitement!!! The Iberostar Grand Collection have announced that they are currently offering their amazing weddings for FREEEE!!!!

This is a 5 star luxury all-inclusive hotel chain that stole my heart and respect when they opened their first resort in 2006.

They have since built two more making a total of three:

* The Iberostar Grand Paraíso located in the Riviera Maya of Mexico

* The Iberostar Grand Hotel Bávaro in the Dominican Republic

* The Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall in Jamaica

The free wedding package includes:

• Minister Fees
• Flowers for bride & groom
• Wedding cake
• Champagne toast
• 10% off spa services
• Complimentary room for the groom the night before the wedding
• FREE room upgrade for the wedding couple

In the years that I have been helping plan destination weddings I can honestly say the wedding team at the Iberostar Grands have proven to be the best of the best. They are friendly, eager to help and create AMAZING weddings. Another key element to know is that they only do ONE wedding a day so you can have the peace of mind that you will be treated like royalty.

If you are getting engaged to get married feel free to call me to check availability and to get the best weddingmoon package available for you and your guests.

How I Became A Travel Consultant

Okay, so a question I often get is "How did you become a travel agent?" I didn't go to school and I definitely didn't pay a travel company 100+ dollars to become part of their pyramid scheme of a business. So here is how I did it.

First, I think it is important to know a little bit of background of where I was in life when I first decided to take the plunge into the travel industry:
I was pregnant working full time at a children's fitness gym. My primary duties included running a Mothers Day Out program, instructing sport classes throughout the week, organizing our summer camps and doing 3- 6 themed birthday parties a weekend. I'm exhausted just reminiscing about it. While I LOVED my job and the people I worked with it was starting to take a toll on me physically, emotionally and mentally. I was going to school part time in the evenings to become a Dental Hygienist for that was my main goal.
One day after work I busted out the phone books to start calling travel agencies in the Dallas area. It is a job that I pictured myself doing since I was a little girl... but I hadn't traveled to too many places and wasn't an expert on geography either so I didn't think anyone would hire me. The job would be perfect for me so I kept on despise the doubts... I had probably called about 50 different agencies when finally one lady said that she would give me an interview to see if I would be a good fit. WOOHOOO!!!

I dressed to the nines for the interview and had the attitude like I had it in the bag. After a couple of nerve racking interviews with both of the owners they decided to hire me on. Now it's important to know that I was taking a HUGE pay cut and there was a lot more involved than I had anticipated but it was something I was passionate about so I was ecstatic to get to work. How big of a pay cut you ask? 7 bucks an hour. Yup, less than my first job at Blockbuster when I was 16 years old!! BUT after a year of hourly pay I would be strictly on commission base pay which was scary but also exciting because I have always been a go-getter.

I went through intense training online, with travel representatives and eventually training in the destinations as well. Even now, I learn something new almost every day. While I love being able to interact with people 8-11 hours a day there are some I have to work with who are just plain RUDE and IGNORANT. Since the customer is always right it's important that I keep my cool and stay professional. This is something that I get better at through the years. At first I would let people get to me too much... blood would boil to the point where I would have to walk outside... or sometimes a man would make me cry uncontrollably by some mean words directed at me. Luckily, I realized that there are people in this world that no matter what you say or do they are just going to be unhappy and direct their negative energy at you. My skin has become thicker and I'm now able to turn a negative conversation around to be more on the positive side.

I have my favorite types of trips to plan: destination weddings, Disney, family trips, couples travel, Hawaii and all-inclusive trips. It makes my heart happy to help someone get their trip of a lifetime planned and executed.

Growing up I truly wasn't great at anything... my brother had football, my cousin had gymnastics, best friend had ballet... so I'm at a point in my life where I finally have some things that I am good at: Travel Consulting and being a mommy.

If you missed the post about 9 Reasons To Use A Good Travel Agent you can see it HERE. ツ

So what about going to school to become a dental hygienist you ask? I slowly stopped going to school. I'm happy with it. Most of the time. ツ Would I be making more money to provide for my family as a Dental Hygienist? Absolutely. I chose happiness over money.


And since every post is better with a picture here is an oldie but goodie ~ smiles to you from our son, the Dylanmeister.

Outrigger Reef on the Beach in Waikiki is ideal for Weddings and Vow Renewals

There are certain hotels that are close to my heart and the Outrigger Reef on the Beach is one of them. It is located on a beautiful beach right in the heart of Waikiki on the island of Oahu. In 2008 this resort completed a bona fide renovation that had Hawaii-goers and people in the travel industry talking. They did an amazing job and it is like a new, fresh hotel. The rooms are chic and modern that include wi-fi internet. The staff and service are superb while the dining & entertainment are fantastic as well.


One of the Outrigger's strongest qualities is their fabulous vow renewal and wedding packages.

Their complimentary vow renewal ceremony includes a priest, traditional Hawaiian music and a ceremonial certificate which features a Hawaiian floral lei symbolizing an endless circle of love.

To read more details on their vow renewal and wedding packages click HERE.


There are endless options for dining just walking distance from the hotel but the Outrigger Reef on the Beach provides the wonderful Kani Ka Pila Grille. It's a poolside restaurant by day and
a crackalackin entertainment spot by night offering some of Hawaii's best musicians. Blogger's spellchecker doesn't recognize crackalackin as a word but it most definitely is.

If you are intrigued about having a vow renewal ceremony or a destination wedding but just don't know where to begin, feel free to give us a call. We can get you in touch with the best wedding team and help make sure you get the best vacation possible!



Much love,

Destination Weddings ~ It's not a job, it's a passion

After working as a travel consultant for a couple of years a young lady called me interested in a destination wedding. "A destination wedding?!" The feeling of excitement and nervousness overtook me. It sounded like something that would be a perfect fit for me but I had never done something like that before and I was afraid of the pressure of making sure her special day went perfectly. After a lot of research, deciding on a resort and date, talking with each guest individually throughout the following 6 months 'the' day had finally come.

Was everyone going to remember everything I told them??? Did I forget a big piece of information??? Please LORD don't let it rain!

I eagerly waited 2 days after they had returned home to call each one individually to see how the experience was. To my surprise, everyone loved it! In fact, most of them were ready to start discussing their next trip!

The entire experience had inspired me to start focusing on helping arrange destinations weddings. Sure it is stressful but the end result is so incredibly worth it!

Now, let me slap you with some reality here for a second... we have had our share of nightmare weddings as well. There isn't enough time in the day to get started on those but please know that there are certain people in the world who are simply bitter and unhappy. You know the type, the ones who hardly smile and when they do it is not genuine at all. The ones who are pessimistic about every.little.thing and who seem to somehow enjoy complaining until their head is spinning.

There is probably just 1 out 10 weddings that end up going in the that direction which isn't bad. Not bad at all. Just like everything you have to take the good with the ugly.

Through the past 4 years I have thoroughly enjoyed helping brides and their guests get the best wedding vacations possible. My goal is to always make sure everyone has a fun and memorable time with their closest family and friends in a paradise setting.

The Weddings by Legacy Travel blog is a project that I have been working on to showcase our past weddings and to give future brides some inspiration and ideas. You can look over it in all of it's fabulousness here: http://www.weddingsbylegacytravel.com/








While I help with all sorts of travel, my favorite kinds to help with are romance travel and family travel.


Have a blessed weekend and enjoy the weather while it lasts!

Sunday Sampler

Camille's husband, Trey, came up with a clever way to turn your patio tabletop into a chalkboard. LOVE this idear. Yes, I'm a Texan so I have every right to say idear. ;-) Go check our her cute momoblog blog! http://www.camilledawn.com

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My office chair at work, well... it has seen better days and I have been contemplating on if I should give her (yes, she's a her) a little makeover or not. Well, after this week I have definitely been inspired to do so just as they showcased HERE on Design Sponge.

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Yanet from 3 Sun Kissed Boys has transformed their storage shed in to the utmost über cool 'Mancave.' Be sure and check it all out HERE.

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The CheapChica's Guide to Style showed us how incredibly BEAUTIFUL a white dress can be paired with a skinny red belt as shown HERE by the Ms Jessica Alba.

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We are loving the new twist to our Chocolate-covered banana pops thanks to the recipe from Mommy's Kitchen. Thanks Tina!

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As most of you know I specialize in Destination Weddings so I also follow some wedding blogs such as Style Me Pretty. Some of my faves from the past week: THIS Haiti engagement photo shoot and I ADORE the idea from THIS wedding to have the string of pictures going over the tables. Simply yet so clever.

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Amanda is putting us all to shame by constantly showing us how much more organized she is than us but she may be on to something HERE. ;-)

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To get your week's worth of celebrity gossip, go check our Handbags & Handguns post HERE.

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Gina from Dreamland is doing a series of inspiration quotes and it makes me love following her blog that much more. Click HERE to be inspired.

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Have a shindig coming up? Ruffledblog.com has free downloadable bounting letters that are sure to enhance any party.

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The Dominican Republic is a new favorite destination of mine and I am eager to share with you all the fun details I was able to learn from the trip so stay tuned for that!


Much love,

A new favorite resort ~ The Marival Residences & World Spa

There is a new resort in Riviera Nayarit that has stolen my heart! The Marival Residences & World Spa has thought through every detail to create the ultimate all-inclusive resort.

The resort is just 15 - 20 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport and those who have the privilege of staying at the Marival Residences also have full access to it's sister property, the Marival Resort and Suites.

Before going into the details of the new Residences, it is important to know what all you get at the original Marival Resort. Both resorts have lush, tropical grounds that simply stunning. Guests staying at the Residences have convenient shuttles that are constantly running to and from the original resort. The beach there is long, wide and amazing. Guests staying at the Residences have a private beach club area where you can enjoy beach butler service while soaking up some rays. The Marival Resort also has some fun, active pools that include swim-up bars and a über cool waterpark for the smaller ones. Once Nicki and I saw that the kids area had water slides we of course had to try them. :)

The Marival Resort and Suites has a different themed party (a.k.a. fiesta) every night. We were able to make it to the Mexican themed night and we were impressed with the food, entertainment and the decorations. The bright, colorful frills everywhere really made it lively and festive.

Another fun thing to keep in mind is that over at the Marival Resort they have a disco where you can dance the night away.

Okay, so now on to the fabulous Marival Residences & World Spa!

Every single 'Residence' is a penthouse with state-of-the-art design and 24 hour room service. Yes, 24 hours. We had chocolate cake at 2am one night. And it was good. Damn good. The Residences range from 1 to 4 bedroom accommodations. They even have washer and dryers in each Residence! Nicki and I were very excited to discover the washer and dryers. Each Residence have large balconies facing the Pacific Ocean with tropical flowers and patio furniture. Each room have flat-screen TVs and the master bedrooms have iPod docking stations so you can get down with your bad self to En Vogue at any given moment. Or maybe that was just me. Anyhow, the penthouse rooms alone are enough reason to stay in the Residence section.









The Food and beverages. The head chef came to this hotel from the Four Seasons Los Angeles and we are thankful he did! Each meal was impeccable. One day while we were grabbing a bite to eat by the pool Nicki wanted a BLT but it wasn't on the menu but boy, they made her a BLT STAT! LOL, the service goes beyond expectations which really does leave an impression. While they may only have 3 restaurants, don't forget you have full access to the Marival next door which has 4 making a total of 7 restaurants. The Sky Bar is on the top floor and not only does it have amazing views of the Pacific but they serve up some mean drinks as well!


Our first night there


Kampai!


Cheesecake Lollipops


Enjoying the sunset from the Sky bar

The Spa. The Marival Residences has one of the only World Spas in the country offering 9 different treatments from all over the world along with a cutting-edge salon. I could of stayed in the spa for the entire stay honestly.


Full-service salon


Italy-themed treatment room


Kids need lovin' too. While the resort seemed to be very grown-up, they definitely kept the kiddos in mind when making their 5 star all-inclusive concept complete. They have FREE nanny services (maximum 8 hours/5-night minimum stay required) along with an adorable kids club that offer things like arts & crafts, a game room and just an entire little paradise for them to explore in.


Heck, I could have fun in this kids' club!




For the gamers...




Outdoor play area


Okay, it's time to announce my favorite part. Are you ready? Drum roll please... How would you feel about .... UNLIMITED excursions INCLUDED??? Years after a group vacation the thing that sticks in everyone's memory is usually a group outing that everyone experiences together. They have things like sunset sailing and the dolphin encounter. How about sea lions? Go horseback riding. Zip line through a jungle!
Marival Residences have teamed up with Trafic Tours and are able to offer their guests unlimited select tours. Click HERE to see which ones they are currently offering. If you think about it, each one of those tours is generally $100 or more so if you did one per day that can really add up. The pick up for the tours is just a $5 cab ride away.

Nicki and I took advantage of the Dolphin Encounter and the all-day Kontiki tour. They both were amazing but I've got to tell you... dolphins have won a huge place in my heart. I had no idea how interesting, beautiful and SMART they were! It was definitely a highlight of the trip and one that I will never forget.


Dolphin Encounter


The resort is still rather new so be sure and take advantage of their ideal low pricing right now.

Who is this resort for? I can honestly see it being a perfect fit for all travelers. Destination weddings, a romantic getaway, family vacations... Check! Check! and Check!




Have you ever swam with dolphins??? Aren't they amazing creatures??

Va Va Voom! It's the Grand Velas!

Hola blogging world! Nicki and I have recently returned from the beautiful Puerto Vallarta! We were able to meet some wonderful people, eat some gourmet food, inspect 3 amazing resorts and we had some adventure thrown in there too. The first resort that I would like to share with you is the ever-so-fabulous Grand Velas.

The Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort in Nuevo Vallarta has been a hotel that I've been dying to see since I started in the travel industry in 2005. As you can imagine, I was giddy as a little school girl when we were taking in all of it's beauty when Nicki and I recently had the chance to visit there. It was even more beautiful than I had imagined. It would be perfect for an adults-only vacay or as a family vacation as well. As soon as you walk up, you enter into a spacious and beautiful open-air lobby with spectacular views of the Pacific ocean. You immediately notice that there has been careful consideration into every inch of detail throughout the resort. They greet you with a smile, cold towel with a sinus-clearing scent and a champagne glass filled with the daily specialty drink. Instead of tacky, plastic wristbands you will get to wear a cute, keepsake bracelet.



The pools were just as impressive. The infinity pools appeared to flow gracefully right into pacific ocean. A trick to the eye that made me do a double take. The lounge chairs are beautifully designed with beach towels carefully rolled up on each one. The pool side service was friendly and prompt. Next, we walked down to the beach which made us stop for a few moments. In those moments we simply tried to take it all in. Something about the sound of the waves coming in surrounded by impeccable design and service just made it all come together. I then realized why this resort had won so many awards.



As we were walking up to check out their rooms, we couldn't help but to notice a structure that stole the spotlight. It was obvious that this is where they hold some magnificent weddings and gatherings. Even if you had the ceremony on the beach, wouldn't this be a perfect reception spot?? With the ocean in the background?



We will go over the weddings a little bit later on my wedding blog. Now on to the rooms!

Every single suite was decorated in neutral tones that had pops of tropical-influenced color here and there. The most memorable part for me was that every suite had private, oceanfront balconies decorated with bold, beautiful flowers in the shades of fuchsia.




As we walked through to each restaurant we kept pointing out gorgeous details that would catch our eye such as Koi Fish Ponds and the spacious, lush hallways.




The resort has 4 Signature Restaurants that each have their own unique style and music. Lucca, the Italian has a piano player while Piaf, the French restaurant has a violin player. Please note that Piaf's is for 12 years old and older only.

Next up, that award-winning spa!
As soon as you walk in you smell the aroma and your stress can't help but to melt away. Haha! Corny I know but oh, so true. The Grand Velas is a member of the Leading Spas of the World and they offer every treatment imaginable. The even offer daily meditation, yoga, and Pilates classes.

The Grand Velas has amazing children programs as well. The kids club is open from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm which is unusual for all-inclusive resorts. They usually close at around 4 or 5 pm. Here is an example of what their daily activities look like:

Time		Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
9:30	Play-Do	Trouble game	Mask making	Memory game	Painting	Crazy game	Twister
10:30	Kites	Painting stones	Piñata making	Cooking class	Hand painting	Necklace making	Picture Frame
12:00	Flyng Kites	Sand caastles	Ballon game	Treasure hunt	Sand caastles	Play-Do	Sack race
12:00	Video games	Video games	Video games	Video games	Video games	Video games	Video games
1:00	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
2:00	Movie	Movie	Movie	Movie	Movie	Movie	Movie
2:00	Lottery	Lottery	Lottery	Lottery	Lottery	Lottery	Lottery
3:30	Water ballons	Water guns	Little balls	Finding chips	Water guns	Water ballons	Lego game
5:00	Soccer	Dodge ball	Parrot’s Show	Kick base ball	Sea lion show	Dodge ball	Broom hokey
6.00	Video games	Video games	Video games	Video games	Video games	Video games	Video games
6:00	Board games	Board games	Board games	Board games	Board games	Board games	Board games
6:30	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
7:30	Crazy game	Mini disco	Movie	Magic show	Crazy game	Mini disco	Movie

AAA, Conde Nast Traveler, Leading Hotels of the World and more, have honored Grand Velas Resorts for its all-inclusive luxury, superior service, spa facilities, amazing gourmet dining, and state-of-the-art resort facilities.

The Grand Velas definitely did not disappoint and we can not wait to visit again.



Until next time,